Sajad Hussain, a 45-year-old Swindon resident, has received a sentence of five years and four months in jail for his calculated romance scams. Hussain confessed to committing five counts of fraud at Swindon Crown Court in April of this year.
Manipulation and Falsehood: Tactics of Romance Fraud
From 2013 to 2020, Hussain fabricated romantic relationships with three different women, each of whom he met online. Using pseudonyms and deception, he convinced each woman that they were in a genuine relationship with him. Cunningly exploiting their emotions, he began to solicit increasingly larger sums of money and sentimental jewellery.
Hussain had a cold and ruthless modus operandi, as described by Judge Jason Taylor KC at Swindon Crown Court. His elaborate fabrications included requiring funds for an ailing father, being in arrears on his rent, and needing to pay for damages to a friend’s car. He even asserted that he was under threat of physical violence unless he repaid a debt. Through these methods, Hussain swindled the victims out of a total of £204,322 and several pieces of family jewellery.
Hussain’s Arrest: Ending the Reign of Deception
Authorities apprehended Hussain at his Swindon residence in 2020 following a complaint from one of his victims. He faced charges under the Fraud Act 2006 for falsely representing himself to the victims to fraudulently acquire funds.
Hussain acknowledged to carrying out multiple romance scams before trial, formally admitting his guilt to the charges. As a result of his admission and subsequent sentencing, he faces a term of incarceration followed by a period of parole. Specifically, he is to spend half of his given sentence behind bars. After completing this portion of his sentence in prison, he will serve the remaining time under supervised release or parole, adhering to specific conditions set by the parole board. This form of punishment ensures Hussain will continue to face legal and societal oversight even after his release from prison.
Impact on the Victims: More than Financial Loss
DC Rachael Fairbairn, a member of the Complex Fraud Team, noted that Hussain’s actions were not just criminal but deeply callous. He preyed on the generosity and trust of his victims, exploiting their goodwill over an extended period. His manipulation tactics were insidious, weaving a tapestry of deception designed to trap these unsuspecting women.
However, the toll of Hussain’s crimes extended far beyond monetary losses. The emotional and psychological damage caused by his deception was extensive and profound. These women had trusted him, believing they were investing in a future together. To discover that their partner was merely a fraudster using them for financial gain led to feelings of betrayal, shame, and heartbreak.
One instance that stood out in this complex case was Hussain’s exploitation of a victim’s personal tragedy for his own benefit. He seized a moment of extreme vulnerability when one of his victims’ mother suffered a stroke. Rather than offering support or understanding, he saw this as an opportunity to ratchet up his financial demands.
Romance Scams: A Serious Crime
The investigators commended the bravery of the victims for reporting Hussain, stressing the importance of recognising romance fraud as a crime. Victims of such fraud should not hesitate to report such cases. Any doubts about the intentions of an individual repeatedly asking for money should be taken seriously and reported.
These are more than just scams or fraud cases – they’re personal violations, causing significant emotional trauma to the victims involved. The emotional scars left behind often run much deeper and last far longer than the financial losses, underscoring the severe harm caused by romance fraud. This form of exploitation is a sobering reminder of the psychological tactics employed by fraudsters, demonstrating the depths of their cold-hearted manipulation and deceit.
